Happy New Year! If one of your resolutions is to get started on that business plan, you're in luck. On Wednesday, Jan. 11 @ 6:30pm,  an experienced speaker from SCORE will be at the Santa Teresa Library to talk about business plans. There will be time at the end of presentation for questions and networking. I hope you will join us for this informative talk.

If you are thinking about starting a business or have a business idea, the first thing people will tell you is to write a business plan. Some things you might be thinking are: Do I really need to do this?  I know what I am doing. I don't have time to write this thing that I will never use.

It does take time to get your business plan together but it is usually necessary if you want to get financing or looking for partners/ investors.  Plus, the business plan is not only to sell your business idea to others but it really is a roadmap and guide for yourself.  It helps keep you on track with spending, profit goals, and so you don't lose sight of the "big picture".  To get you started on your business plan the library has a few resources:

How to Write a Business Plan by Mike McKeever

Anatomy of a Business Plan by Linda Pinson

And if you can't get to the library, we have resources available online:

Business Plans for Dummies by Paul Tiffany

Small Business Reference Center: Full-text of the Nolo title How to Write a Business Plan and business plan samples.

In addition SCORE has great business plan templates available online.

Venture Café Entrepreneurism Workshop Series: As part of a 5 part series promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship culture and building a community of entrepreneurs, I will be presenting on San José Public Library's Business Resources this Saturday, May 21. Included are a question and answer period, time for lunch and networking afterward. Live Webinar. Lunch will be provided. This event will be held at the Santa Teresa Branch Library from 10:30 AM- 1:00 PM. Remaining dates of the series are Saturday, May 28 & June 4. Registration is recommended, please call 408-808-3068 to register and for more information.

Women's Initiative is a local non-profit that helps "high-potential, low-income women" start businesses with services offered in English and Spanish. Women's Initiative offers business management training that includes business plan development, marketing, and record keeping. They have several locations in the Bay Area including right here in San José at 1407 Parkmoor Avenue.

Venture Café Entrepreneurism Workshop Series: Join us for a 5 part series promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship culture and building a community of entrepreneurs. Expert presenters followed with a question and answer period, time for lunch and networking afterwards. Live Webinar. Lunch will be provided.  This event will be held at the Santa Teresa Branch Library from 10:30 AM- 1:00 PM, Saturdays, April 30, May 7, May 21, May 28, and June 4.  Registration is recommended, please call 408-808-3068 to register and for more information.

Business Owner Space (BOS) is a one-stop resource for businesses and entrepreneurs.  BOS is composed of a collaborative partnership among more than two dozen public, private, and non-profit agencies and businesses including San José Public Library.

BOS can help you assess whether you are ready to start a business, give you the steps to launch and grow your business, and connect you with local resources that can help support you through the business start-up process.

BOS is located at 1290 Parkmoor Avenue in San José.